Bed rack



March 28, 1961 R. OWENS BED RACK Filed Jan. 16, 1959 INVENTOR LOU/8E R.OWENS ATTORNEY BED RACK Louise R. Owens, 5451 Newton St, Hyattsville,Md.

Filed Jan. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 787,219

1 Claim. (Cl. -318) This invention relates to a novel rack forattachment to the foot of a bed.

Most modern beds consist of a box spring supported by legs with amattress thereover, and lack footboards, others have low footboards.Such beds provide no means or space for holding articles the occupantmight require such as a bed spread when not in use, extra blankets,clothing, or personal small articles.

The invention provides a simple, inexpensive and unobtrusive rack whichmay be readily attached to the foot of a bed or removed therefrom. Afurther feature of the invention is that it may be folded or collapsedagainst the foot of the bed when not in use, and will offer noobstruction, nevertheless remaining in place for ready use.Additionally, the device is so constructed that, when folding it, thereis no need to force any part of it into the internal parts of the bed,for example, between the mattress and the spring. Hence no effort isrequired to place it in folded or collapsed condition, or to render itoperational, and no damage results to the bed, bed sheets or blankets,due to its attachment or use. Furthermore, the device is so designedthat it does not interfere in any way with the functioning of the bedsprings or offer interference to the making or changing of the bed.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bed rack;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the invention applied to the foot of a bed andin operative or extended condition;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the invention in folded orinoperative condition; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of theinvention.

In these figures, the invention is seen to consist of a main supportingframe or bar member 10, shaped with an upstanding straight portion 11.The ends of member are each bent downwardly to form the portions 12 and13, then inwardly to form the end portions 14 and 15, the latter thusbeing parallel to each other.

Member 10 may be formed in one piece, preferably from light metal suchas aluminum. As illustrated, in order to allow for adjustment to beds ofvarious widths, the portion 11 of member 10 may be interrupted to carrya cylindrical adjustment sleeve 16 aflixed to one segment of portion 11by a locking screw and to the other segment by an adjusting set screw17. The segments of portion 11 of the member 10 may thus be spaced apartvarying distances by telescopic movement thereof with in sleeve 16,thereby adjusting the spacing of end portions 14 and to the width of aparticular bed.

A flexible webbing, generally indicated at '20, in the case of Figs. l-3is shown to be formed of fabric tape about two inches in width. The webshown is composed of a longitudinal or base strap 21 extending thelength of the rack (and hence the width of a bed to which the rack isattached). The ends of strap 21 are formed with loops such as loop 22enclosing the end portions.

14 and 15 of member 10 with a slidable fit, so that strap 21 can he slidalong member 10 to occupy the tates atent i ice I position shown in Fig.3, as will be further explained.

A plurality of spaced cross straps 23 are formed with looped endscarried by portion 11 of member 10 and are stitched at their other endsto the base strap 21. Cross straps 23 are draped to depend loosely fromportion 11, as seen in Fig. 1.

In order to provide for adjustability to various widths of beds, strap21 may be formed of elastic fabric or may be inelastic for most of itslength, and be interrupted by an elastic segment 24, Fig. l.

The means for attaching the above-described assembly to the base or boxspring of a bed consists preferably of two clamping members, generallyindicated at 30 and 31. These each consist of a U-shaped metallic partformed of light, fiat, semi-resilient metal strip having welded to it anextension arm, roughly L-shaped and indicated at 32 and 33. In otherwords, clamps 30 and 31 in profile have the U-shape, but with two spacedupper arms and one lower arm. Clamps 30-31 are adjustable in the sensethat their arms may be bent out of parallel, as shown, to conform tovarious thicknesses of bed base or box springs.

At the points where each upper arm of the members 30-31 are bentinwardly, are affixed metallic ring guides or eyes 35 of a diametersuflicient to receive the ends 14-15 of member 10. Guides 35 thus act astracks in which are slidably supported the ends 14-15.

In assembled condition on a bed, the clamps 30-31, being ofcomplementary shape, are placed on the sides of the box spring adjacentthe bed foot, in each case the arm 32 and 33 extending at an angletoward the foot. In Fig. 2, the left foot of a bed having a base or boxspring 46 and mattress 41 is shown with the device of the invention inoperative position with clamp 30 in the position described. Member 10has been partly withdrawn from the bed, ends 14-15 thereof being partlyretracted through guides 35. It will thus be appreciated that the rackin this condition is prepared to receive extra blankets, articles ofclothing, etc., and that the clamps 30, providing good purchase on thebase 40, also offer a four-point slidable mounting consisting of thefour guides 35, so that the member 10 is firmly but slidably attached tothe bed.

In Fig. 3, the rack of the invention is shown in outof-use position,member 10 having been pushed toward the bed to the extent of itsmovement. Prior to this movement, loops 22 and hence base strap 21 maybe relocated on portions 12-13 of member 10, so that even the strap 21of web 20 will not interfere with the movement of member 10 into closeabutment with mattress -41. This condition is also shown in Fig. 3.

In the device described, it is desirable to provide detachable means toprevent accidental withdrawal of bar member 10 from the guides 35 ofclamps 30-31. These may consist of the caps 45 attached to the tips ofend portions 14-15 of member 10. Caps 45 may be formed simply of hollowrubber nipples having a frictional grip, and be of sufiicient largerdiameter than the holes in guides 35. Accordingly, if it is desired toremove the device of the invention from the bed either partially orentirely, removal of caps 45 permits removal of member 10 and itsassociated webbing. Member 10 may then be stored elsewhere while theclamps 30-31 remain on the base 40. Or, straps lid-31 may in turn besimply removed from base 40 of the bed.

In the modified form of the invention shown inFig. 4, all parts are thesame as above described except'that in place of the webbing 20,consisting of straps 21 and 23, there is provided a webbing of muchfiner mesh, sufiicient not only to contain large articles such asclothing or blankets, but also smaller articles such as watches, walletsor toilet articles.

In the Fig. 4 modification, a web or net 50, having marginal loops 51,is threaded on the bar member 10. Web 50 may be of such material, andwoven or braided in such manner, that sufiicient elasticity is presentto allow for adjustment of the length of member 10 by means of thesleeve 16, as above described. Likewise, loops 5 1 are madesufi'iciently loose to permit the web 59 to be transferred to theportions 12-13 of member 10, when it is desired to place the device inout-of-use condition, as described for Fig. 3. Thus web 56 can be put ina condition similar to web 2! avoiding interference with the folding ofmember 10 flat against the mattress 41.

The foregoing description, by way of illustration, relates to applyingthe invention to a bed having no footboard. The invention is equallyapplicable to any bed having a low or narrow footboard which does notprotrude laterally beyond the sides of the box spring. To apply theinvention to a bed where the footboard exceeds the width of the boxspring, as in the case of a four-poster type bed, the box spring islifted from its surrounding frame and the clamping members applied asabove described. Then two small holes-may be drilled in the footboard inalignment with the ring guides, The ends of the frame member may then bepassed through these holes into engagement with the ring guides. It willbe appreciated, however, that the invention has more usefulness where nofootboard is present.

What is claimed is: s

A bed rack applicable to the foot of a bed of the kind which includes abox spring and a superposed mattress, the rack consisting of a pair ofclamping members proportioned to fit over and frictionally engage thesides of the box spring adjacent the foot thereof, each of said clampingmembers carrying spaced track means at the points where said memberspass over the top of said box spring, a frame member consisting of a rodhaving a pair of ends bent into spaced parallel relationship and acentral upstanding portion approximately the Width of the said mattress,said rod ends being slidably carried by said track means, means carriedby said rod ends to deter removal from said track means, and a flexibleweb having marginal loops carried by said frame member, said loops andsaid web being transferable to said upstanding portion of said framemember when the latter is moved into out-of-use position against saidmattress.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS198,301 Jensen Dec. 18, 1877 1,036,653 Leek Aug. 27, 1912 1,359,430Richards Nov. 16, 1920 1,563,428 Melton Dec. 1, 1925

